Biology subjects

Ramalho, J. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Ramalho, J. J..

9 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Systematic proteomics identifies a conserved mechanism for polar targeting of plant cortical proteins

Multicellular development is tightly coupled to the polarization of individual cells, which partitions polar proteins along the cell cortex and can control asymmetric cell division, anisotropic growth, local differentiation or physiology. Mechanisms driving cell polarization have been described in fungi and animals, but these lack counterparts in plants. While several polarized proteins have been identified in plants, the overall mechanisms guiding their polar localization are poorly characterized. Through iterative affinity proteomics on the recently identified SOSEKI polar proteins, we discovered a network of polar proteins that is conserved in the flowering plant Arabidopsis and the liverwort Marchantia. We next used this collection of novel polarized proteins for systematic proximity ligation proteomics in these two species to map their global polar proteome. We identified a subfamily of polarized Protein S-acyl transferase (PAT) enzymes that are required for membrane targeting of Arabidopsis SOSEKI proteins. Using human and fruit fly models, we showed that PAT19 is sufficient for membrane targeting of SOSEKI1, likely through direct palmitoylation. This work demonstrates a conserved mechanism for polar protein targeting in plants and offers a resource for studying polar protein localization.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2026

GCK-4 regulates apical actin organization and lumen formation in the C. elegans intestine

Epithelial tubes are an essential component of many organ systems. The formation of their lumens depends on the close coordination of epithelial polarity, the apical actin cytoskeleton, and apical junctions, yet the mechanisms that organize the apical cytoskeleton and junctions downstream of polarity remain poorly understood. Here, we identify the Ste20 family kinase GCK-4, the single C. elegans ortholog of the mammalian kinases LOK and SLK, as a critical regulator of intestinal lumen formation. GCK-4 localizes to the apical membrane during early lumen formation and to microvillar tips as these structures develop. Its loss results in a lethal cystic lumen phenotype, without disrupting the establishment of epithelial polarity, and in occasional failure to maintain attachment between the pharynx and intestine. Lumens in gck-4 mutant animals show irregular junction patterning, severely impaired apical accumulation of both actin and the membrane-actin linker Ezrin/Radixin/Moesin protein ERM-1, and microvilli atrophy. In Drosophila and mammalian cells, the GCK-4 orthologs are thought to organize the apical actin network largely through phosphorylation of ERM proteins. In contrast, ERM-1 phosphorylation is only partially reduced in gck-4 mutants and is not abolished, indicating that GCK-4 acts through additional targets and is not the principal ERM-1 kinase in the intestine. Together, these findings identify GCK-4 as a key regulator of apical actin and junction organization during lumen formation, and demonstrate that Ste20 kinases can control apical cytoskeletal architecture at least partially independently of ERM phosphorylation.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Nanoclustering of a plant transcription factor enables strong yet specific DNA binding

Transcription factors (TFs) are traditionally depicted as monomeric, or oligomeric, units that recognize and bind specific DNA sequences to regulate transcription. Emerging evidence suggests that many TFs can undergo liquid phase separation, resulting in condensates that bind DNA through a different mechanism. For the Auxin Response Factors (ARFs), canonical plant TFs, evidence for both scenarios exists. But which of these scenarios is operational in the plant nucleus is unclear. Here, we demonstrate using MpARF2 of Marchantia polymorpha that a third scenario is operational: MpARF2 forms nanoscopic clusters under physiological conditions. Nanoclusters combine DNA-binding features that cannot be accessed by the other two scenarios: high-affinity, switch-like, and sequence-specific. Our results suggest nanoclustering as a mechanism that equips TFs with the DNA-binding properties necessary for transcriptional regulation. TeaserTranscription factor nanoclusters balance the DNA-binding trade-off between weakly binding oligomers and nonspecific condensates.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2025

The First of Us: Ophiocordyceps use a novel scramblase-binding peptide to manipulate zombie ants

Parasite-adaptive manipulation of behavior is a widespread natural phenomenon. While Ophiocordyceps zombie fungi are well-known for hijacking ant behavior to increase their fitness, functionally characterizing the biomolecules involved in behavior manipulation remains difficult in these non-model organisms. To circumvent this problem, we have adopted the powerful genetics toolbox of Caenorhabditis elegans to identify molecular targets and neurophysiological effects of candidate Ophiocordyceps effectors. With this approach, we discovered a novel cysteine-rich, small secreted fungal peptide that binds to well-conserved calcium-dependent scramblase channels in neurons, particularly those associated with sensory tissues. This binding suppressed nematode motor coordination and dampened ant olfactory systems vital for communication. Our findings are the first to directly connect an Ophiocordyceps effector with its extended phenotype, while demonstrating the neuroethological role of Scramblase-1.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Quantitative modelling of fate specification in the C. elegans postembryonicM lineage reveals a missing spatiotemporal signal

The invariant lineages of C. elegans provide tractable cell fate models to study how developing organisms robustly integrate spatial signals at the single-cell level via gene regulatory networks. For instance, during postembryonic development, a mesoderm lineage arises through a sequence of oriented cell divisions from a single progenitor. This mesoblast initially gives rise to 18 cells with three distinct fates - 14 body wall muscles (BWMs), 2 coelomocytes (CCs; dorsal), and 2 sex myoblasts (SMs; ventral). The latter cells migrate and then proliferate to contribute 16 smooth muscles to the nematodes reproductive organs. Prior work identified key symmetry breaking cues: i) ventrally restricted activation of the LIN-12 Notch pathway promoting SM over CC fate and ii) asymmetric re-distribution of SYS-1 {beta}-catenin and POP-1 TCF among daughter cells along the anteroposterior (A-P) axis, i.e. the Wnt/{beta}-catenin asymmetry pathway. However, it remains unclear whether these pathways are sufficient to specify all cell fates accordingly or whether additional symmetry breaking cues are necessary. In this study, we use quantitative modelling to better understand fate specification in the postembryonic M lineage. Specifically, we focus on the anteroposterior symmetry break by creating increasingly complex models towards robustly reproducing fate specification in wild type larvae and mutants. This iterative process resulted in two alternative models that explain the experimental observations by either introducing an additional spatial (spatial symmetry break) or temporal cue (temporal symmetry break). Finally, we evaluate their plausibility and propose a series of experiments to provide support for alternative models. Overall, our study highlights how a quantitative examination of mechanistic ideas can identify knowledge gaps and guide experimental follow-up.

systems biology↗

bioRxiv2021

ERM-1 phosphorylation and NRFL-1 redundantly control lumen formation in the C. elegans intestine

Reorganization of the plasma membrane and underlying actin cytoskeleton into specialized domains is essential for the functioning of most polarized cells in animals. Proteins of the ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) and Na+/H+ exchanger 3 regulating factor (NHERF) family are conserved regulators of cortical specialization. ERM proteins function as membrane-actin linkers and as molecular scaffolds that organize the distribution of proteins at the membrane. NHERF proteins are PDZ-domain containing adapters that can bind to ERM proteins and extend their scaffolding capability. Here, we investigate how ERM and NHERF proteins function in regulating intestinal lumen formation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. C. elegans has single ERM and NHERF family proteins, termed ERM-1 and NRFL-1, and ERM-1 was previously shown to be critical for intestinal lumen formation. Using CRISPR/Cas9-generated nrfl-1 alleles we demonstrate that NRFL-1 localizes at the intestinal microvilli, and that this localization is depended on an interaction with ERM-1. However, nrfl-1 loss of function mutants are viable and do not show defect in intestinal development. Interestingly, combining nrfl-1 loss with erm-1 mutants that either block or mimic phosphorylation of a regulatory C-terminal threonine causes severe defects in intestinal lumen formation. These defects are not observed in the phosphorylation mutants alone, and resemble the effects of strong erm-1 loss of function. The loss of NRFL-1 did not affect the localization or activity of ERM-1. Together, these data indicate that ERM-1 and NRFL-1 function together in intestinal lumen formation in C. elegans. We postulate that the functioning of ERM-1 in this tissue involves actin-binding activities that are regulated by the C-terminal threonine residue and the organization of apical domain composition through NRFL-1.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Characterization of the composition and functioning of the Crumbs complex in C. elegans

The apical domain of epithelial cells can acquire a diverse array of morphologies and functions, which is critical for the function of epithelial tissues. The Crumbs proteins are evolutionary conserved transmembrane proteins with essential roles in promoting apical domain formation in epithelial cells. The short intracellular tail of Crumbs proteins interacts with a variety of proteins, including the scaffolding protein Pals1 (protein associated with LIN7, Stardust in Drosophila). Pals1 in turn binds to a second scaffolding protein termed PATJ (Pals1-associated tight junction protein), to form the core Crumbs/Pals1/PATJ Crumbs complex. While essential roles in epithelial organization have been shown for Crumbs proteins in Drosophila and mammalian systems, the three Caenorhabditis elegans crumbs genes are dispensable for epithelial polarization and animal development. Moreover, the presence and functioning of orthologs of Pals1 and PATJ has not been investigated. Here, we identify MAGU-2 and MPZ-1 as the C. elegans orthologs of Pals1 and PATJ, respectively. We show that MAGU-2 interacts with all three Crumbs proteins as well as MPZ-1, and localizes to the apical membrane domain in a Crumbs-dependent fashion. Similar to crumbs mutants, a magu-2 null mutant shows no developmental or epithelial polarity defects. Finally, we show that overexpression of the Crumbs proteins EAT-20 or CRB-3 in the C. elegans intestine can lead to apical membrane expansion. Our results shed light into the composition of the C. elegans Crumbs complex and indicate that the role of Crumbs proteins in promoting apical domain formation is conserved.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2020

BUBL-1 is essential for intermediate filamentorganization and apical membrane morphology

Epithelial tubes are essential components of metazoan organ systems that control the flow of fluids and the exchange of materials between body compartments and the outside environment. The size and shape of the central lumen confer important characteristics to tubular organs and need to be carefully controlled. Here, we identify the small coiled-coil protein BBLN-1 as a regulator of lumen morphology in the C. elegans intestine. Loss of BBLN-1 causes the formation of bubble-shaped invaginations of the apical membrane into the cytoplasm of intestinal cells, and abnormal aggregation of the subapical intermediate filament (IF) network. BBLN-1 interacts with IF proteins and localizes to the IF network in an IF-dependent manner. The appearance of invaginations is a result of the abnormal IF aggregation, indicating a direct role for the IF network in maintaining lumen homeostasis. Finally, we identify bublin (BBLN) as the mammalian ortholog of BBLN-1. When expressed in the C. elegans intestine, bublin recapitulates the localization pattern of BBLN-1 and can compensate for the loss of BBLN-1. In mouse intestinal organoids, bublin localizes subapically, together with the IF protein keratin 8. Our results therefore may have implications for understanding the role of IFs in regulating epithelial tube morphology in mammals. SummaryWe identify BBLN-1 as an evolutionary conserved regulator of lumen morphology in the C. elegans intestine. Loss of bbln-1 causes intermediate filament network reorganization that induces severe apical morphology defects. We also identify bublin (BBLN) as the mammalian ortholog, which can compensate for the loss of BBLN-1 in C. elegans.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2020

In vivo control of the ezrin/radixin/moesin protein ERM-1 in C. elegans

ERM proteins are conserved regulators of cortical membrane specialization, that function as membrane-actin linkers and molecular hubs. Activity of ERM proteins requires a conformational switch from an inactive cytoplasmic form into an active membrane- and actin-bound form, which is thought to be mediated by sequential PIP2-binding and phosphorylation of a conserved C-terminal threonine residue. Here, we use the single C. elegans ERM ortholog, ERM-1, to study the contribution of these regulatory events to ERM activity and tissue formation in vivo. Using CRISPR/Cas9-generated erm-1 mutant alleles we demonstrate that PIP2-binding is critically required for ERM-1 function. In contrast, dynamic regulation of C-terminal T544 phosphorylation is not essential but modulates ERM-1 apical localization and dynamics in a tissue-specific manner, to control cortical actin organization and drive lumen formation in epithelial tubes. Our work highlights the dynamic nature of ERM protein regulation during tissue morphogenesis and the importance of C-terminal phosphorylation in fine-tuning ERM activity in a tissue-specific context.

cell biology↗